Improvement in military ammunition-boxes



inventor;

N.F'ETERS, FHOTOLXTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

J. J. HIRSCHBUHL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY,

IMPROVEMENT IN MILITARY AMMUNITION-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 34,423, dated February 18, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. J. I-IIRsoHBUHL, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Im- -proved Ammunition-Box for Army Officers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved ammunition-box with the flap removed. Fig.2 is a vertical section of the box, taken at the line m a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken at the line y y of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a compact and convenient ammunition-box for army officers to accompany navy and other revolvers; and it consists in the manner of arranging within an outer case separate compartments for carrying all the different articles of ammunition by themselves, whereby they are made more accessible when required for use, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents an oblong rectangular case, which may be made of tin, wood, or of any other suitable material, to be entirely covered with common leather, with the exception of the front side. The front side is provided with a flap H, which may be of the same material or of enameled leather or cloth, attached at the upper end of the case to the covering, so as to lie over the front side of the box and button down at the bottom in the usual manner.

On the inside of the case is an inclined partition I), which is of the same depth and extends nearly two-thirds the length of the case, where it is connected with another partition 2', running at right angles to it, and which with it forms an apartment in one corner of the case. Attached to the same side of the case and near the front edge by hinges j are three boxes B O D, which form separate receptacles, respectively, for balls, caps, and

cartridges. The upper box B, which is intended for balls, is about a third longer than the second 0, which is for percussion-caps, and about the same size as the third or bot tom box, which is for cartridges. These small boxes are open only at the top, and when itis desired to fill them or to take ammunition from them have to be turned outward on their hinges. WVhen turned inward, the bottom of the cap-boxO forms a cover for the cartridge-box D, and the partition 1 a cover for the cap-box C, while the inner top side of the case A closes the box B containing the balls.

Extending across the lower end of the apartment E, flush with the front face of the case, is a metallic strip a, which forms a box in the apartment E for wads, and also serves to keep the powder-flask which'is carried in the apartment E from casually moving about.

The leather covering of the case is provided on the back side with a loop at of the same or other suitable material, through which the waistband passes. It is also provided on opposite sides and near the top with two similar loops 9 f to receive a shoulderstrap by which the ammunition-box is suspended from the body of the oflicer.

The metallic strip gin the apartment E serves to secure a screw-driver under the neck of the powder-flask.

The within-described improved ammunition-box is just what every army officer who carries a revolver or other small fire-arm requires, being of little weight on the person, and each article of ammunition so arranged therein as to be most readily accessible.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The withindescribed ammunition -box, having an apartment E for a powder-flask and separate boxes B C D, attached to one side by hinges, so as to open outward for the reception of balls, percussion-caps, and cartridges, when arranged in the manner and for the purpose described J. J. HIRSOHBUHL.

Witnesses:

J os. CLEMENT, J. P. GARLHUrr. 

